Wing flapping toy

ABSTRACT

A wing flapping toy simulating a creature of nature such as a butterfly and the like by a simple wing mount on a handle and gripping means on the latter for manipulating the wings in unison.

United States Patent Inventor Peter Paul Gutierrez [56] References Cited 3101 Fresno St., Santa Clara, Calif. 95051 UNITED STATES PATENTS Q 555- 223 2,637,937 5/ 1 953 Polk 2,637,938 5/1953 Patented May4, 1971 2,637,939 5/1953 2,714,784 8/1955 2,846,811 8/1958 Polk...

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene WING FLAPPING TOY Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. Attorney-Leslie M. Hansen u.s. Cl 46/1, 7

46/124 ABSTRACT: A wing flapping toy simulating a creature of nalnt. Cl A63h 11/00 ture such as a butterfly and the like by a simple wing mount on Field of Search 46/1, 124; a handle and gripping means on the latter for manipulating the 272/68 (Consulted) wings in unison.

l //'I 71" a I I y l 1-,

I 1% I 7 2 /7 19 '12; f \2' -z= "5. f f 3 =-,-'/f- .T I Li--732 7 9 7 -Q- -'7 4 2?: 'Z x, I I 2 J Zz 3:

I, r '%/%;z

PATENTED MAY 4 l97| 3 577 6 7 O INVENTOR. Peter)? Gut/arm;

ms orraeA/m WING FLAPPING TOY BACKGROUND or lNVENTlON This invention relates to a wing flapping toy and more particularly to a simulated butterfly on a handle having-means for manipulating the wings.

Numerous wing flapping devices have been devised to simulate the action of flapping wings and the like of winged creatures. However, such devices are quite complex requiring numerous parts and problems in assembly. The present invention contemplates the provision of a very simple, toy which iseasily assembled, economical to manufacture and highly efficient in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wing flapping toy having a handle providing a backbone support for wing mounts and means on such handle for engaging the wings for moving the same pivotally relative to the wing mounts.

lt is anot'her object to. provide a novel handgrip-type means for manipulating the wings of thedevice to simulate the wing flapping action of a creature of nature such as a butterfly and the like.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description and claims in the light of the accompanying drawing in which: 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wing flapping toy embodying the present invention",

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1; A

BIG. 3 is a sectional view through FIG. 2 as'seen substantially along line 3-3 therein.

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower side of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION Referringto the drawing the wing flapping toy of the present invention, generally designated 10, comprisesa handle 11, a pair of wings 12, means 13 on the handle and wings for pivotally mounting the latter on the handle, and manipulating means 14 associated with the handle 11- engageable with the wings for articulating the latter in unisonrelative to the handle.

DETAILED DESCRlPI'lON The backbone of the my 10 is the handle 11 which in the present disclosure is illustrated as a" relatively rigid solid strip of plasticmaterial having its free end 15,- reduced in width to provide a narrow backbone 16 on which a pair of tabs 17-17' are formed. The tabs 17-17, extend in a diverging disposition at a slight angle downwardly from the narrowbackbone 16 to.

form a part of the means 13 for mounting the wings l2on the handle.

Each of the wings 12 has a relativelystraight inner edge 18-18 adjacent which a slot 19 and 19, respectively, is formed in parallel relation to such edges; These slots 19 and 19' are of a length comparable to the length of the respective tabs 17-17 so as to fit the same. The tabs 17-17 are preferably of dovetail shape, i.e., longest at their extremities so as to require slight force in the inserting of the tabs through the respective slot 19 or 19' as the case may be. The width of each slot 19 and 19 is slightly, greater than the thickness of the wings such that the wings are free to swing about an axis at the base of the dovetail tabs and between two extreme positions By the foregoing arrangement the wings 12' will normally fall-or return to an extended or open condition, somewhat backbone 16 of the handle 11. a

Means 14 for manipulating the Wings 12 comprises a yieldable, sprin glike member 23 which has an articulatable joint or connection with the handle 11 for swinging movement toward and from the same. More specifically, the member 23 is formed as an integral part of the handle 11 by a backward bow '24 such that the member 23 extends below the handle portion The member 23 terminates in a U-shaped end 25 in which a pair of cars 26-26 extend in parallel relation back toward the handle. The cars 26-26 are disposed in the region of the narrow backbone 16 of the handle 11 and therefore will straddle the narrow. backbone. Thisv enables movement of the ears 26-26 beyond the upper surface of the, handle to thereby force the wings 12 into the other extreme (dotted lines FIG. 3) position of their movement.

- e member'23 is a springy material and is formed form the bowed end, 24 of. the handle such as tohave fulcrum engagement with the latter as at 27 adjacent the bow. From this fulcrum point 27 the member extends at a slight angle downwardly from the handle sufficiently to dispose the wing engaging edges of the ears 26-26 in a plane to release pressure against the wings.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the wings 12 normally extend substantially laterally from the backbone l6 and that by a person gripping the handle and member. 23 alternately pressing them together and releasing them, the wings 12 are caused to flap between their extreme positions to simulate the wing action of a creature 'of nature.

Having thus described my new wing flapping toy in specific detail it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the same may be susceptible to variations, alterations and/or modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention therein. 1 therefore desire to avail myself of all variations,

alterations and or modifications as may fairly come within the purview of the appended claims.

1 claim:

, 1. A wing flapping toy in which a pair of wings simulate a butterfly and the like creature comprising:

a. a handle having a backbone formed on one end thereof;

b. a pair of tabs formed on-opposite edges of said backbone;

c. each of such wings having a slot formed therethrough adjacent one edge thereof, each slot having positioned therein oneof said tabs for mounting said wings for swinging movement from a lower position extending substantially laterally from said backbone to a raised position in substantially parallel relation with respect to each other;

d. a wing manipulating means mounted on the opposite end of said handle for movement toward and from the handle upon gripping and releasing of the same by a human hand holding said handle; and

e. a pair of cars formed on said wing manipulating means and extending therefrom toward said handle for engaging said wings upon gripping of said handle as aforesaid for swinging said wings toward parallel relation.

2. The wing flapping toy of claim 1 in which said tabs have a dovetail shape the extreme outer edges of which match the length of the slots formed in said wings for press fit therethrough and interlocking relation therewith.

3. The wing flapping toy of claim 2 including an endless resilient band mounted on said tabs and having intermediate strands strung across the adjacent edges of said wings for urging the wings toward laterally extending position relative to said backbone.

4. The device of claim 3 in which the intermediate strands of said resilient band extend crosswise each other for yieldably bearing againstthe adjacent edges of said wings.

'5. The wing flappingtoy of claim 4 in which said wing manipulating means comprises a member formed integrally with said opposite end of said handle by a backward bow for normally extending said member at a slight angle downwardly from said handle.

6, The wing flapping toy of claim 5 in which said backbone end of said handle is of narrower width than the latter and in 

1. A wing flapping toy in which a pair of wings simulate a butterfly and the like creature comprising: a. a handle having a backbone formed on one end thereof; b. a pair of tabs formed on opposite edges of said backbone; c. each of such wings having a slot formed therethrough adjacent one edge thereof, each slot having positioned therein one of said tabs for mounting said wings for swinging movement from a lower position extending substantially laterally from said backbone to a raised position in substantially parallel relation with respect to each other; d. a wing manipulating means mounted on the opposite end of said handle for movement toward and from the handle upon gripping and releasing of the same by a human hand holding said handle; and e. a pair of ears formed on said wing manipulating means and extending therefrom toward said handle for engaging said wings upon gripping of said handle as aforesaid for swinging said wings toward parallel relation.
 2. The wing flapping toy of claim 1 in which said tabs have a dovetail shape the extreme outer edges of which match the length of the slots formed in said wings for press fit therethrough and interlocking relation therewith.
 3. The wing flapping toy of claim 2 including an endless resilient band mounted on said tabs and having intermediate strands strung across the adjacent edges of said wings for urging the wings toward laterally extending position rElative to said backbone.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which the intermediate strands of said resilient band extend crosswise each other for yieldably bearing against the adjacent edges of said wings.
 5. The wing flapping toy of claim 4 in which said wing manipulating means comprises a member formed integrally with said opposite end of said handle by a backward bow for normally extending said member at a slight angle downwardly from said handle.
 6. The wing flapping toy of claim 5 in which said backbone end of said handle is of narrower width than the latter and in which said ears extend U-shape from the free end of said member in straddling relation to said narrow backbone for engaging said wings in proximity thereto. 